Rainforest Conservation Fundhttp://www.rainforestconservation.org
Thu, 30 Jul 2015 18:48:19 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Your donations will be matched = doubled during July- September!http://www.rainforestconservation.org/your-donations-for-aguaje-palm-climbing-harnesses-will-be-matched-doubled-during-july-september/
http://www.rainforestconservation.org/your-donations-for-aguaje-palm-climbing-harnesses-will-be-matched-doubled-during-july-september/#commentsMon, 06 Jul 2015 19:41:54 +0000http://dev.rainforestconservation.org/?p=2064That’s right, RCF will match your contribution in dollars! Your donations for aguaje palm climbing harnesses will be matched = doubled during July- September! Thanks to an anonymous donor, we are able to do this for a short time this year. Each climbing harness can save hundreds of huge, majestic aguaje palms in the rainforest. Threatened species of monkeys, peccaries, tapir and other animals depend on these fruit-bearing keystone species for their survival. Hurry, as this matching funds campaign has a limited time period.

Mission: Ensuring the future of tropical rainforests through practical solutions and with respectful commitment to local people.

Why: Nearly half of the world’s species live in tropical rainforests. Rapid forest destruction places millions of species at risk of extinction within our lifetime. All future generations depend upon us to save the natural world for their use and enjoyment.

Where: RCF’s primary work is in and around the 1,000,000 acre Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Communal Conservation Area (ACRCTT) in the Amazon basin of northeastern Peru. The ACRCTT is one of the largest protected areas in Peru and one of the most biologically diverse places on earth, with river dolphins, manatees, 14 species of monkeys, jaguars, and thousands of species of birds, bats, fish, snakes, plants, fungi, etc., many of which have not yet been “discovered” by modern science.

How: RCF works with local people and governments to promote conservation and provide alternatives to environmentally destructive practices. The people living along the rivers subsist primarily by fishing, limited hunting and non-mechanical “garden” agriculture. RCF works with the villagers to:

Practice sustainable agriculture and agroforestry on previously degraded land in a “buffer zone” adjacent to the conservation area (ACRCTT)

Develop sustainable income sources to decrease the need to extract lumber, fruits, fish and animals from the ACRCTT and buffer zone

Prevent outsiders from extracting from ACRCTT and buffer zone and enforce communal agreements among the villages, which limit extraction to sustainable levels

Provide formal and practical conservation and environmental education in community schools and to adults in the villages near the ACRCTT

Success: Many local villagers are now organized and committed to protecting the ACRCTT and buffer zone. They work very closely with RCF extension workers who provide resources, expertise, transportation, and education. As a result of the communal organization and commitment, the ACRCTT has been selected as the “pilot” program and model for future protected areas in northern Peru.

I am embarking on an exciting new documentary film project in the Peruvian Amazon with a filmmaker and several George Mason University students. Our documentary film will tell the story of the Maijuna indigenous group as they fight to save their ancestral lands and traditional culture. The Maijuna live in one of the most biologically rich places on earth and their ancestral lands are made up of almost 1,000,000-acres of primary rainforest (22% larger than Yosemite National Park).

The Peruvian Government wants to build a road directly through the heart of Maijuna lands, which the Maijuna are adamantly against. The direct effects of highway construction and the associated impacts from an influx of colonists and subsequent deforestation would tear apart the ecological fabric of this currently roadless area and deprive the Maijuna of their traditional way of life. This documentary film will help empower the Maijuna to share theirstory in theirownwords.

Please stand with us as we help the Maijuna fight for their cultural survival!

How you can help:

1. Please consider going to the Maijuna Film Project crowdfunding site to learn more about this project and contribute. We are using the online crowdfunding site Indiegogo and our campaign is part of Mason’s Indiegogo Partner page. Even the smallest donation will make a difference. All donations are tax deductible and come with perks, several hand-made by the Maijuna.

2. Spread the word about this critically important project to as many friends and family members as possible. Post it to Facebook, tweet about it, send it through email, etc. The more people that hear about this project the higher the probability that we will meet our fundraising goal.

It is super easy to sign up. Just go to goodsearch.com and select the get started prompt. Enter your name and email and then in the box where you provide your charity, write in Rainforest Conservation Fund. You will see RCF’s name come up, then select RCF, and you’re done!

Please use Goodsearch as your daily search engine, and ask your friends to do the same … and make sure they select RCF of Chicago. Helping preserve rainforest just takes a click!